Glove

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a glove having at least one gripping aid arranged at the periphery of the cuff, the surface of which gripping aid at least partially has patterning, especially knobs and/or grooves, wherein the glove at at least two of the total five finger spaces which are adapted to the fingers of a hand also has a structured surface or patterning, respectively, especially knobs and/or grooves, essentially at the ends of each finger space opposite the cuff which are provided for intake of the fingertips.

The invention relates to a glove, especially to an examination glove orto a surgical glove or to a work glove, preferably made of aliquid-impermeable elastic material, which glove in addition to a glovebody having five finger spaces and a palm space also comprises a cuff atthe surface of which at least one gripping aid is arranged. Furthermore,the invention also relates to a process for production and to the use ofthe glove as well as to a process for production of formers which aresuitable for the production of gloves according to the invention.

STATE OF THE ART

WO 2005/036997 A1 describes a glove having a gripping aid arranged atthe cuff, wherein the gripping aid is arranged in the region coveringthe outer wrist knuckle region of the wrist and/or wherein the grippingaid extends over at least 180° of the periphery of the cuff.Furthermore, there is also described a pair of gloves in which eachglove has at least one gripping aid and on both gloves the gripping aidsare provided on adjacent peripheral sections of the cuff having anangular distance of at least 30°.

AT 505 712 A1 describes three differing embodiments of gloves. The firstembodiment relates to gloves having a gripping aid arranged at the cuff,wherein the tensile modulus of the material of the gripping aid is above10 MPa (preferably above 100 MPa), or twice as high (preferably tentimes as high) as that of the material of the cuff. Accordingly, thematerial of the gripping aid is different to the material of the cuff.

The second embodiment relates to gloves having at least one gripping aidin the cuff region, wherein the gripping aid is made of the samematerial as the glove body and connected thereto by a force-fittingconnection either directly in the region of the edge of the cuff or onthe inside of the glove. A further force-fitting connection is locatedon the outside of the glove within or above the wrist region.

The third embodiment relates to gloves having a gripping aid which isarranged at an angle of 30° to 150° to the end of the cuff and fastenedto the glove by means of at least one and preferably two force-fittingfixation points. As in the first embodiment, the tensile modulus of thematerial of the gripping aid is above 10 MPa (preferably above 100 MPa)or twice as high (preferably ten times as high) as that of the materialof the cuff.

AT 413 190 B describes a glove having a gripping aid arranged at thecuff. Therein, the gripping aid is provided spaced from the rear edge ofthe cuff on a peripheral section of the cuff adjoining the portion ofthe back of the hand on the outer side of the hand.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,539 describes gloves having a gripping aidprotruding in the cuff region, which gripping aid according to apreferred embodiment is arranged laterally below the thumb in the regionof the musculus abductor pollicis longus.

EP 1 675 486 B1 protects a pair of gloves as well as a method forremoving a pair of gloves in which each glove has at least one grippingaid, wherein the gripping aids on both gloves are arranged on adjoiningperipheral sections of the cuff, having an angular distance of at least135°. Therein, one gripping aid of one glove is arranged on the outsideof the cuff covering the outer wrist knuckle region of the wrist, theother gripping aid is arranged at a different position due to theaforementioned angular distance.

DE 299 19 345 U1 describes protection gloves having a partial plasticcoating which comprises knobs for enhancement of the abrasion strengthand of the grip. Preferably, the gloves are made of woven or knittedmaterial and have no gripping aid.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the known state of the art it is the object of the presentinvention to provide an alternative glove and a process for itsproduction, which glove is easy to remove after wearing without thewearer coming into contact with soiling or contaminations on the outsideof the glove during the removal process.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention achieves the object by the features of the claims andespecially by a glove having at least one gripping aid arranged at theperiphery of the cuff, the surface of which gripping aid at leastpartially having patterning, especially knobs and/or grooves, whereinthe glove at at least two of the five finger spaces which are adapted tothe fingers of a hand also has a structured surface or patterning,respectively, especially knobs and/or grooves, essentially at their endsopposite the cuff which are provided for intake of the fingertips. Forthe purposes of the invention, an irregular arrangement of elevations orindentations at the respective location of the glove surface,respectively, is also understood as a structured surface.

Therefore, gloves according to the invention especially differ fromgloves known from the state of the art by having a gripping aid havingan at least partially structured surface in the cuff region and inaddition by having at least partially structured surfaces at the ends ofat least two finger spaces, respectively, which are adapted for intakeof the fingertips. Due to this design, gloves according to the inventionmay be removed from the hand of a wearer particularly well and safe, asin the removal process the gripping aid having its at least partiallystructured surface is gripped by fingertips which also have a structuredsurface. Thus, an interaction occurs between the structured surfaces inthe region of the fingertips and the structured surface arranged on thesurface of the gripping aid, e.g. an “interlocking” of two burledsurfaces, whereby the grip is increased significantly and the risk ofslipping from the gripping aid during the removal of the glove isreduced significantly.

According to one embodiment, a glove according to the invention may havestructured surfaces only at the gripping aid and at two to five fingerspaces or according to an alternative embodiment, the glove according tothe invention may have a structured surface on its entire surface(whereby for the purposes of the invention the outside of the glove ismeant which does not have contact with the skin of the wearer when theglove is worn).

Optionally, the material of the glove is thicker in the region of thestructured surfaces than in adjoining regions without structuredsurfaces having the same distance to the rolled edge. The advantage ofan enhanced material thickness in the region of the structured surfaceslies in the enhanced tear strength.

In detail, a glove according to the invention has a glove body and acuff attached thereto and connected thereto, respectively, wherein theglove body comprises five finger spaces for intake of the fingers of ahand as well as a palm space for intake of a palm. It differs from knowngloves especially in that on the periphery of the cuff at least onegripping aid is arranged which at its surface or at a portion of itssurface has patterning, and furthermore in that the glove at the ends ofat least two of the finger spaces opposing the palm space and the cuff,respectively, has patterning, too, which preferably is identical to thepatterning on the surface of the gripping aid. According to theinvention, the glove is made in one piece, accordingly the gripping aidin particular is an integral component of the glove.

In a preferred embodiment, the glove according to the invention consistsof the glove body comprising the palm space and the five finger spaces,at least two of which have structured surfaces, the cuff which isattached to the palm space and the at least one gripping aid having anat least partially structured surface arranged on its periphery.

The material from which the glove is produced may be selected dependingon the intended application, i.e. depending on the function to beachieved by the glove and may in particular be acrylonitrile, nitrile,nitrile rubber, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl, polyvinylalcohol, polyurethane, rubber, caoutchouc, natural rubber, latex,natural latex, neoprene, chloroprene, chloroprene rubber, chloroprenelatex, butyl rubber, fluororubber and combinations thereof.

Preferably, at its end opposite the glove body, the cuff of the gloveaccording to the invention has a rolled edge as a border. The rollededge may have an arbitrary thickness and usually consists of 5 to 6layers of the rolled-up glove material.

Between the rolled edge and the end of the cuff attached to the glovebody the at least one gripping aid is arranged at an arbitrary positionon the periphery of the cuff, wherein it can also be arranged directlyat one or both ends of the cuff, i.e. directly at or in immediateproximity to the rolled edge and/or directly at or in immediateproximity to the end attached to the glove body. An arrangement of theat least one gripping aid at or in immediate proximity to the rollededge is preferred, as with this arrangement the force upon pulling istransmitted onto the rolled edge during the removal process and thegloves therefore have an enhanced tear strength. A further advantage ofthe arrangement of the gripping aid at or in immediate proximity to therolled edge lies in that the wearer in the beginning of the removalprocess, i.e. upon inserting a hand with the fingertips first into theglove, naturally holds the thumb tight to the palm, whereas he laterallymoves the thumb next to the palm as soon as the hand is inserted furtherinto the glove. Therefore, with a gripping aid arranged at or inimmediate proximity to the rolled edge there exists a reduced risk thatthe wearer with his thumb gets caught in the cavity formed by thegripping aid and the glove is damaged by that.

Optionally, the gripping aid of the glove has smaller dimensions thanthe finger space which is adapted to a thumb, especially having a (forexample by 10-30%) smaller perimeter and/or a smaller diameter, forexample a diameter which is smaller by at least 20%. Further optionally,the length of the gripping aid perpendicular to its perimeter is smallerthan the average distance between a tip of a thumb and the first thumbjoint of an adult. The length of the gripping aid (measured from itsattachment at the cuff to its opposing end) therefore amounts topreferably less than 3 cm, especially less than 2.5-2.7 cm. By theaforementioned preferred dimensions of the gripping aid it shall beensured that the thumb of the wearer does not get into the gripping aidwhen putting on the glove, whereby the glove could be damaged.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, a glove according tothe invention has exactly one gripping aid having an at least partiallystructured surface. When the glove is put on, this gripping aid isarranged in the cuff region laterally of the wrist. Therefore, in avertical arrangement of the glove with the finger spaces pointingupwards, a possible arrangement of the gripping aid is below the fingerspace which is adapted for intake of a thumb. A less preferredalternative arrangement of the gripping aid in a vertical arrangement ofthe glove with the finger spaces pointing upwards is below the fingerspace which is adapted for intake of a little finger. In this preferredembodiment having a gripping aid arranged laterally of the wrist, aglove according to the invention is particularly suitable for anambilateral wearability, i.e. the glove may be worn on a left hand aswell as on a right hand, wherein the position of the gripping aid oneach hand is identical, respectively, namely either laterally of thewrist below the thumb or laterally of the wrist below the little finger.

Therein, for the purposes of the invention, the expression “laterally ofthe wrist” means a position at one of the both narrow sides of the wristwhen the gloves are put on, wherein it is assumed that each wrist hastwo longitudinal sides and two narrow sides, wherein, when the hand isarranged vertically with the fingertips pointing upwards, onelongitudinal side is arranged below the back of the hand and the otherone is arranged below the palm and the narrow sides are arrangedopposite to one another between the two longitudinal sides.

Furthermore, in addition to the ambilateral wearability of the glovesaccording to the invention having a gripping aid arranged laterally ofthe wrist, this arrangement also has the advantage that the gloves maybe packed into cartons in larger quantities in a better way, e.g. every100 pieces. This is because on the one hand gloves having the grippingaid arranged accordingly may be packed in a space-saving way, as noadditional layer of glove material results from the gripping aid. On theother hand, with gloves having a gripping aid arranged laterally of thewrist when the glove is worn, the gripping aid is not flattened duringstacking in a carton.

As a further advantage of a gripping aid which is arranged in the cuffregion laterally of the wrist when the glove is worn, measurements usinga dynamometer have revealed that with the aforementioned arrangement ofthe gripping aid an effort of the wearer of the glove reduced by 4% isrequired for removing the gloves from the hand by gripping the grippingaid after usage.

In one embodiment, gloves according to the invention have an increasedwall thickness at the gripping aid when compared to the rest of theglove, especially at the transitions between the gripping aid and therest of the glove. This is produced in that upon dipping of the formersinto an immersion bath one or more notches are there on the elevationthrough which the gripping aid is produced. In this at least one notchthe liquid from the immersion bath accumulates increasingly such thatduring the subsequent drying of the gloves regions having an increasedwall thickness are generated at the positions of the notches. Due to theincreased material thickness at this position the corresponding regionsalso have a modified look when compared to the rest of the glove, asthey are usually darker than the rest of the glove. This provides theadditional advantage of a visual signaling effect which is supposed toremind the wearer to seize the gloves only at the gripping aid forremoval from the hand.

The shape of the at least one gripping aid is variable, wherein thegripping aid especially may be formed essentially knob-shaped, lobular,band-shaped, tongue-shaped, pyramid-shaped, cone-shaped, truncatedcone-shaped or angular. Preferably, the gripping aid is an elevation onthe surface of the cuff, which, when the glove is put on, i.e. when theglove is worn on the hand, unlike the rest of the glove does not fittight to the hand but is projecting from the surface of the glove,especially in the shape of a lobe, wherein a cavity is formed especiallybetween the inner side of the lobe and the hand of the wearer. Apartfrom the dimensions the aforementioned cavity formed by the gripping aiddoes not differ significantly from the cavities which are formed by thefive finger spaces. Especially, the glove does not have any air bubbles,edges or other irregularities in the region of the gripping aid when itis worn.

In one embodiment the gripping aid is in the shape of a lobe which isarranged angularly on the periphery of the cuff, wherein the angle isfor example an acute angle or a right angle and especially an obtuseangle, one leg of which runs about perpendicularly to the rolled edgeforming the end of the cuff and especially at a spacing thereto, whereinthe other leg, starting from the vertex, runs in the direction of thefinger space which is adapted for intake of a thumb or adapted to athumb, respectively. This angular arrangement of the gripping aid on theperiphery of the cuff is particularly ergonomically as for removal, thegripping aid can be gripped particularly well at about the vertex of thegripping aid with the thumb and at least one further finger and can bepulled off the hand of the wearer. A further advantage of a gripping aidas a lobe which is arranged angularly on the periphery of the cuff liesin that during the removal the gripping aid does not stretch and therebyis clearly visible and seizable.

According to a preferred embodiment, the gripping aid has a shape whichis similar to a truncated cone and is arranged laterally of the wristwhen the glove is worn, preferably below the finger space which isadapted for intake of a thumb. Preferably, the gripping aid has adepression on its side averted from the cuff, e.g. as it is depicted inFIG. 6, in which depression the material thickness preferably isincreased.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a pair of gloves consistingof two gloves according to the invention. These two gloves according tothe invention can be identical or can differ from one another.

In order to ensure that the wearer does not slip during the removal ofone glove while seizing the glove with the other hand, the surface ofthe gripping aid of a glove according to the invention is at leastpartially structured, wherein the glove according to the inventionpreferably has a structured surface on the entire gripping aid. Thisstructured surface preferably has elevations and indentations whichespecially are arranged regularly, for example grooves, lamellae,flutings, especially running in parallel, or lozenges, squares or knobsat a regular spacing. In particular, the aforementioned patterning notonly gives an increased grip to the gripping aid upon touching, but alsoan increased stability which facilitates the seizing with the otherhand, respectively. Preferably, the area of the structured surface atthe gripping aid amounts to at least 0.1 to 0.5 cm², more preferred toat least 1 cm² and particularly preferred to at least 2 cm².

In one embodiment, the gripping aid has two or more regions ofstructured surfaces, which are separated from one another by regionshaving non-structured surfaces. This involves the advantage of anincreased tear strength, as especially with gloves in which the grippingaid is arranged directly at or in the proximity to the rolled edgeforming the end of the cuff, a superior transmission of power onto therolled edge occurs by the non-structured regions. An increased tearstrength in comparison to conventional gloves having a gripping aid orwithout gripping aid allows a more frequent reuse with gloves that arecertified therefor.

In addition to the structured surface at the gripping aid, glovesaccording to the invention also have at least one structured surface atat least two finger spaces, respectively, especially at the finger spacewhich is adapted for intake of a thumb as well as at at least onefurther finger space. Therein, the structured surface at each of thesefinger spaces is especially arranged at the respective ends of thefinger spaces opposite the palm space, which finger spaces are adaptedfor intake of the respective outer finger phalanges. At the same time,the patterning at the finger spaces are arranged either fullycircumferential or only partially circumferential at the respective endsof the finger spaces. In the case of a structured surface which isarranged only partially circumferential at the ends of the fingerspaces, the structured surface can form one or more areas having astructured surface, wherein more structured surfaces are connected toone another through surfaces without patterning. It is preferred thatthe area of each structured surface on a finger space has a size of atleast 0.1 to 0.5 cm², more preferred of at least 1 cm² and particularlypreferred of at least 2 cm².

Like the structured surface of the gripping aid, the structured surfaceat the finger spaces preferably has elevations and indentations, too,which in particular are arranged regularly, for example grooves,flutings, lamellae, especially running in parallel, or lozenges, squaresor knobs at a regular spacing.

The structured surface of the gripping aid has patterning that isidentical to or differing from that of the structured surface at the atleast two finger spaces.

With identical patterning, e.g. knobs, at the gripping aid and at thefinger spaces, respectively, a glove wearer seizes the nubby surface ofthe gripping aid at one glove with the also nubby surfaces at at leasttwo finger spaces of the other glove when removing the gloves.Therefore, the patterning interlock and therein allow a particularlystable grip during the removal. However, differing patterning at thegripping aid and at the finger spaces also allow a stable grip andtherein a safe removal of the gloves when having a respectivecoordination of the patterning to one another. For example, withdiffering patterning the structured surface at the finger spaces couldhave knobs which interlock with a latticed patterning at the structuredsurface of the gripping aid.

In one embodiment, the structured surface at the finger spaces and/orthe structured surface at the gripping aid has a color which differsfrom the rest of the glove, especially a signal color, e.g. red. Thus,during removal, the wearer is reminded by the visual peculiarity toseize the structured surface of the gripping aid with the structuredsurfaces of the finger spaces and to avoid slipping and therein the riskof contaminations, especially of the forearm or of the wrist, throughthe optimal hold of the glove between both structured surfaces.

Preferably, for an ambilateral wearability gloves according to theinvention have a fully circumferential structured surface at the ends ofat least two finger spaces, especially at the finger space adapted to athumb as well as at at least one further finger space. Especially,gloves according to the invention have fully circumferential structuredsurfaces at the finger space which is adapted to a thumb or at its end,respectively, as well as at the two finger spaces adjacent thereto (forintake of index finger and middle finger). Particularly preferred,identically structured surfaces are arranged fully circumferentially atthe ends of each of the five finger spaces.

For the purposes of the invention, the arrangement of two structuredsurfaces at the ends of the finger spaces, which surfaces are spaced byabout 180° on the periphery of the finger spaces and are connected toone another through a non-structured surface, is also understood as afully circumferential arrangement of the structured surfaces at the endsof the finger spaces.

With gloves according to the invention that can be worn ambilaterally,it is a fact that according to one embodiment two gripping aids havingan at least partially structured surface are arranged on the peripheryof the cuff, the gripping aids being spaced to one another on theperiphery of the cuff by essentially 180°. Thus, it holds true that whenthe glove is worn it has a gripping aid at the inner side of the wristand at the outer side of the wrist on each hand, respectively.

Therefore, according to this embodiment a glove according to theinvention which can be worn ambilaterally preferably consists of theglove body having the palm space and five finger spaces having fullycircumferential structured surfaces at their ends opposite the cuff, aswell as the cuff attached to the palm space, on the periphery of whichcuff two gripping aids having a structured surface are arranged at adistance of essentially 180°.

In less preferred embodiments, alternatively more than two, e.g. threeor four or more gripping aids can be arranged on the periphery of thecuff, especially having the aforementioned structured surfaces,respectively.

In general, the gloves according to the invention comply with thestandards and requirements which are demanded for gloves in theirrespective application. For example, medical gloves, e.g. examinationgloves or surgical gloves, have an AQL value of max. 2.5 and especiallyof 1.5 to 2 or below 1.5.

In particular, depending on the intended application, gloves accordingto the invention can also comprise usage hints and/or identifiers whichare arranged at an arbitrary location. For example, usage hints whichare supposed to remind the wearer to seize the glove at the gripping aidfor removal can be arranged directly on the gripping aid or in theregion adjacent thereto.

In the palm region, gloves according to the invention preferably have awall thickness of about 0.03 to 0.15 mm, whereas their wall thickness inthe region of the finger spaces preferably is 0.07 to 0.2 mm. Thereby,even ultrathin gloves according to the invention resist a tensile forceof more than 6 newtons, especially a tensile force starting at thegripping aid.

Further, the invention also relates to a process for production ofgloves having a glove body which comprises five finger spaces and a palmspace connected thereto and having a cuff attached to the palm space, atthe periphery of which cuff at least one gripping aid is arranged,wherein the glove body, the cuff and the at least one gripping aid aremade in one piece, the gripping aid has an at least partially structuredsurface and the glove body has a structured surface at at least two ofthe finger spaces at their respective ends opposite the palm space.

Like conventional gloves, the gloves in the process according to theinvention are produced by means of formers which are dipped into animmersion bath, e.g. comprising or consisting of acrylonitrile, andsubsequently are dried, vulcanized and removed from the formers, e.g.using compressed air.

After the dipping of the formers into the immersion bath, the so-called“dipping”, which usually is carried out with the fingertips of the modelhand first, the formers are left to dry preferably in the same position,i.e. with the fingertips pointing downwards. Thus, gloves having anincreased material thickness in the region of the fingertips areproduced. Alternatively, the formers may also be rotated by 90-180°after dipping into the immersion bath, such that the liquid used in theimmersion bath does not accumulate at the fingertips of the model hand,but at least partially runs in the opposite direction, i.e. in thedirection of the cuff, therein being distributed in a superior way. Inthis way, gloves having a more regular material thickness are produced.

A rotation of the formers after the dipping into the immersion bath,especially by 90°, makes sense also in view of the reason that afterdrying the gloves can be stripped off the formers in a better way. Assuch a rotation of the formers after drying may not readily be possiblein the same production line in which the formers after the dipping intothe immersion bath are left to dry without rotation, according to theinvention the formers can be arranged on the production line using atransition piece. Therefore, in this embodiment the process according tothe invention comprises a step of arranging the formers onto transitionpieces which are attached to the production line, respectively, prior tothe dipping of the formers into the immersion bath.

With gloves known from the state of the art having a gripping aid thereis often exhibited the problem that these have a wall thickness which istoo low in the region between the finger spaces which are adapted to athumb and to an index finger as well as in the region between thegripping aid and the finger space which is adapted to a thumb (bothregions are denoted as “crotch area”), as the liquid which is in theimmersion bath, which liquid upon dipping of the formers into theimmersion bath adheres to these, is partially intercepted by thegripping aid, such that too little liquid runs into the twoaforementioned regions denoted as “crotch area”.

In order to avoid this problem with the gloves according to theinvention, the formers used in the process according to the inventionpreferably have a reservoir for liquid from the immersion bath, in whichreservoir liquid assembles during the dipping of the formers. Afterremoving the formers from the immersion bath, this liquid runs into theregion between the finger spaces which are adapted to a thumb and to anindex finger, as well as into the region between the gripping aid andthe finger space adapted to a thumb by means of specific rotary and/ortilting movements of the formers.

Alternatively or in addition thereto the formers used in the processaccording to the invention have regions having a preferred direction offlow in comparison to formers known from the state of the art. These canbe e.g. regions having inclinations through which liquid adhering to theformers after their removal from the immersion bath increasingly runs inthe direction of the region of both aforementioned “crotch areas”.

However, the aforementioned regions having a preferred direction of flowmay also be formed by a selective arrangement of the structured surfaceson the gripping aid. After the dipping of the formers into the immersionbath the drying usually occurs in a vertical position with fingertipsand finger spaces pointing downwards, respectively. Therefore, becauseof the gravity liquid adhering to the formers also runs downwards in thedirection of the fingertips and finger spaces, respectively. Because ofthe patterning at the gripping aid, the liquid adheres to these at thegripping aid in a superior way and preferably accumulates in the regionof the transition between the patterning and the adjoiningnon-structured regions in the direction of the rolled edge due to abacklog of liquid flowing downwards. Therefore, it can be achieved by aselective arrangement of knobs or other structured surfaces at thegripping aid that the material from the immersion bath adhering to theformers is redistributed selectively during the step of dripping off andthe step of drying, respectively, whereby the material thickness ofgloves according to the invention in the region of the “crotch areas” isincreased in comparison to gloves having a gripping aid withoutpatterning. The risk of the formation of holes in the region of the“crotch areas” therefore can be minimized by a selective arrangement ofstructured surfaces on the gripping aid, for example by at least 3% oreven by about 3-10%, in comparison to gloves having a non-structuredgripping aid, respectively.

In any case, it is necessary for the aforementioned selectivearrangement of structured surfaces on the gripping aid that in avertical position with the fingertips and finger spaces pointingdownwards, respectively, the patterning is arranged at least partiallyabove the “crotch area” between the gripping aid and the finger spacethat is adapted to a thumb, as otherwise the material cannot flow in thedirection of the “crotch area” using gravity. For example, thepatterning can be arranged essentially parabolic on the gripping aid,wherein in a vertical position of the glove with the fingertips andfinger spaces pointing downwards, respectively, the vertex of theparabola is arranged above the “crotch area” between the gripping aidand the finger space which is adapted to a thumb.

Optionally, when dipping into the immersion bath, the formers also haveone or more notches on the elevation through which the gripping aid isproduced. In this at least one notch the liquid of the immersion bathaccumulates increasingly, such that regions having an increased wallthickness are produced at the positions of the notches during thesubsequent drying of the gloves. As through the at least one notchenough material from the immersion bath accumulates in the wrist regionof the glove during the “dipping”, less viscous material, e.g. lessviscous latex can be used as liquid for the immersion bath according toan advantageous embodiment. In this embodiment, the subsequentvulcanization can be carried out at lower temperatures than thevulcanization of gloves having a gripping aid with no notches known fromthe state of the art, for example at by 5-10% lower temperatures. Thesereduced temperatures cause a saving of costs in the vulcanization step.

In any case, in contrast to conventional production processes for glovesthe production process according to the invention is characterized bythe provision of formers having the geometry of a hand having anessentially cylindrical section adjoining thereto, on the periphery ofwhich at least one elevation is arranged, wherein at the surface of theelevation patterning is arranged at least partially, especiallyregularly arranged patterning, and wherein at at least two fingers ofthe model hand at their respective ends opposite the palm patterning isarranged, too. These provided formers, instead of conventional formershaving the shape of a hand with a smooth and essentially even surface,are dipped into a bath comprising or consisting of chemical and/ornatural ingredients in the usual way, subsequently dried and vulcanizedas well as optionally washed and cleaned. Therefore, the process forproducing gloves according to the invention is distinguished in that theat least one gripping aid with its at least partially structured surfaceas well as the structured surfaces at the finger spaces of the glovebody are co-produced in the shaping process of the glove.

Optionally, gloves according to the invention are chlorinated during orafter the dipping into the immersion bath, whereby the stretchcharacteristics of the gloves may be varied. For an elongation of50-100% gloves which are not according to the invention have a stretchmodulus of 2.1 MPa (±40%), whereas gloves according to the invention canhave a modulus of up to 3.4 MPa (±40%) for a respective elongation.

Further, the process according to the invention comprises a step ofseparating the gloves from the formers, the so-called “stripping”. Thisstep can take place in a completely manual fashion (“manual stripping”)or it comprises the stripping of the finished gloves from the formers bymeans of at least two strippers (“mechanical stripping”). Therein, thesestrippers, for example brushes or rolls, move on the former from thecuff into the direction of the fingertips of the model hand, wherein theglove is pulled off the former up to the respective height of thestrippers. Therein a further advantage of the gripping aid beingarranged laterally of the wrist when the glove is worn becomes apparent:with gloves having only one laterally arranged gripping aid there is norisk of the strippers getting caught at the gripping aid, whereby theglove could be damaged as it can be the case with two gripping aidswhich are arranged opposite to one another above and below the wrist.

Preferably, the step of separating the gloves from the formers alsocomprises blowing the gloves off the formers using compressed air.Therein it is preferred to blow the compressed air onto the cuff andonto the gripping aid by means of two or more conduits, such that thegloves having the gripping aid come off the formers in a superior way.

Optionally, prior to the step of separating the gloves from the formers,the process according to the invention comprises a step which is called“beading”. In contrast to conventional processes, in the beadingaccording to the invention the rolled edge is not rolled up using arelatively large brush, but using two smaller brushes having a diameterwhich for example is smaller by 10-50% than in brushes used in the“beading” in conventional processes. The advantage of two brushes havinga smaller diameter lies in that in the region of the gripping aid, thebrushes do not come into contact with uncured material, e.g. withuncured nitrile, whereby the glove might tear.

As an alternative to the aforementioned process for production of glovesaccording to the invention, the former provided in the process havingthe geometry of a hand and an adjoining cylindrical section instead ofthe at least one elevation on the periphery of the cylindrical sectioncan also have at least one indentation on its periphery, wherein at thesurface of the indentation patterning is arranged at least partially,especially regularly arranged patterning, especially being indentationsagain, and wherein at at least two fingers of the model hand at theirends opposite the palm, respectively, patterning in the shape ofindentations is arranged, too. In this way, the gloves can be turnedinside out during the removing from the model hand in the productionprocess according to the invention, whereby the gripping aid having itsstructured surface protrudes from the surface of the glove, for examplein the shape of a lobe.

The invention also relates to a process for production of a former foruse in a process for producing gloves according to the invention. Thismethod for production of a former preferably has a step of producing aso-called master mould (=mother mould) which has a similar or identicalgeometry in comparison to a former but is larger than the former in itsdimensions by at least 5-10%, preferably by at least 15%. Therein, thepatterning on the gripping aid or on the elevation, respectively, and onat least two of the finger spaces preferably is produced in that themaster mould is arranged within a protective cover and is surrounded bya protective cover, respectively, the protective cover having recessesin the region of the desired patterning on the gripping aid or on theelevation, respectively, and at the finger spaces. Subsequently, theserecesses, i.e. the surfaces of the master mould which are not surroundedby the protective cover, are treated using a sandblast. Therein, thegeometry of the generated patterning can be influenced by the particlesize of the grains of sand.

As an alternative to a protective cover having recesses on the grippingaid and on the finger spaces, the master mould can also be arrangedwithin a protective cover having one or more recesses only on thegripping aid or only on the finger spaces, respectively. After thetreatment of the at least one recess using a sandblast the grains ofwhich having a first geometry, the protective cover is removed from themaster mould and a second protective cover is arranged around the mastermould, which also has one or more recesses only on the gripping aid oronly on the finger spaces, respectively, but which is sealed in placesin which the first protective cover had a recess. By a second treatmentusing a sandblast the grains of which having a second geometry differingfrom the first geometry, patterning is generated in the region of the atleast one recess, the patterning having a different geometry than thepatterning generated by the first treatment with the sandblast.Therefore, by this two-step sandblast treatment using two differentprotective covers in contrast to an only one-step sandblast treatment,different patterning is produced at the gripping aid than at the fingerspaces. By analogy, with a two-step sandblast treatment differingpatterning at the gripping aid can also be produced in that the recessesin the protective cover surrounding the master mould in the first stepare arranged at a different position than the recesses within theprotective cover in the second step. Analogously, two or more differentpatterning can be generated on gripping aids by multi-step treatmentusing a sandblast.

Preferably, the aforementioned process for production of a former alsocomprises a step of producing a negative form by means of the mastermould into which a liquid or solid composition is given subsequently,for example a ceramic mixture. In an ensuing drying step, preferablyincluding a temperature treatment, the composition within the negativeform shrinks by at least 5-10%, wherein after or by the shrinking to thefinal size, respectively, the former is obtained.

Usually, the formers are stored in receptacles having individualcompartments for intake of one former each. Therein, with the preferredarrangement of the gripping aid laterally of the wrist below the thumbthe advantage appears that the size of the individual compartments maybe kept all the same, whereas e.g. with a gripping aid which is arrangedabove and/or below the wrist bigger compartments would be required dueto the increased space requirement of the respective formers.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to the use of the glovesaccording to the invention, especially as examination glove, surgicalglove or work glove. As the gloves according to the invention areprovided particularly for assurance of a working without contaminations,in view of a good hand hygiene it is also intended to use a disinfectantfor the hands after removing the gloves. Therefore, the invention alsorelates to a kit-of-parts comprising a pair of gloves according to theinvention as well as a hand sanitiser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is now described in greater detail by way of examples andwith reference to the figures in which

FIG. 1 schematically shows a hand wearing a glove according to theinvention,

FIG. 2 schematically shows the removal process of a glove according tothe invention,

FIG. 3 schematically shows a hand wearing a further glove according tothe invention,

FIG. 4 schematically shows a hand wearing a further glove according tothe invention,

FIG. 5 schematically shows a former applicable in a process according tothe invention, and

FIG. 6 schematically shows a preferred embodiment of a glove accordingto the invention.

In the figures, identical reference numerals denote functionallyequivalent components.

FIG. 1 shows a glove 1 having a glove body 2 and a cuff 5. The glovebody 2 comprises five finger spaces 3 which are connected to the palmspace 4 each. At their ends 8 opposite the palm space 4, the fingerspaces 3 each have structured surfaces 9. Although generally anarrangement of the structured surfaces 9 on the entire periphery of thefinger spaces 3 is preferred at least in the region of their ends 8opposite the palm space 4, in the depicted embodiment the structuredsurfaces 9 are arranged only partially circumferential at the ends 8 ofthe finger spaces 3. The structured surfaces 9 have regularly arrangedknobs, respectively, extending from the ends 8 of the finger spaces 3 inthe direction of the palm space 4, i.e. when the glove is worn beinglocated at the fingertips of the respective outer phalanges or also ofthe phalanges adjacent thereto, respectively.

At the cuff 5, an angularly arranged lobular gripping aid 6 having apartially structured surface 7 is arranged. One portion or leg,respectively, of the angular gripping aid 6 is arranged on the peripheryof the cuff at a spacing to and essentially in perpendicular to therolled edge forming the end of the cuff 5, extending over about 50-70%of the length between the rolled edge and the opposite end of the cuff 5which adjoins to the palm space 4. The second portion or leg,respectively, of the angular gripping aid 6 is arranged at an obtuseangle of about 110° to the first portion or leg, respectively, extendingin the direction of the thumb and the finger space 3 which is adapted toa thumb, respectively.

FIG. 2 shows the removal process with the glove 1 according to theinvention depicted in FIG. 1. In the depicted embodiment, the gloves forthe right and for the left hand are not identical and therefore cannotbe worn ambilaterally, as the knobs at the ends 8 of the finger spaces 3which knobs form the structured surfaces 9 are arranged only at one sideof the finger spaces 3, respectively, and therefore extend over onlyabout 20 to 50% of the periphery of the ends of each finger space 3.

In the depicted embodiment, the gripping aid 6 of the left glove isseized at its structured surface 7 by a right hand such that thestructured surfaces 9 at the ends 8 of the finger spaces 3 interact withthe structured surface 7 of the gripping aid 6, i.e. for an increasedgrip the knobs of the structured surface 7 and the knobs of thestructured surfaces 9 intertwine.

FIG. 3 shows a glove according to the invention having a knob-shapedgripping aid 6 having a structured surface 7 which in the depictedembodiment is burled. In the depicted embodiment, the knob-shapedgripping aid 6 is arranged essentially centrically below the palm space4 on the periphery of the cuff 5. Contrary to the preferred embodimentin which a glove according to the invention may be worn ambilaterally,the depicted glove may only be worn on the left hand as the structuredsurfaces 9 are arranged on only one side at the ends 8 of the fingerspaces 3, i.e. in a horizontally arranged glove with the thumb pointingto the left only at the upper side of the finger spaces 3.

FIG. 4 shows a further glove 1 according to the invention having a glovebody 2 and a cuff 5. The glove body 2 comprises five finger spaces 3which are connected to the palm space 4 each. At their ends 8 oppositethe palm space 4, the finger spaces 3 have structured surfaces 9,respectively, in the shape of lamellae at a parallel spacing. Thestructured surfaces 9 are arranged partially circumferential at the ends8 of the finger spaces 3 and extend over about half to one third of thelength of the finger spaces 3 in the direction of the palm space 4.

An angularly arranged lobe-shaped gripping aid 6 is arranged at the cuff5 which gripping aid also has lamellae essentially running in parallelas a structured surface 7.

FIG. 5 shows a former 10. Such a former is applicable in a processaccording to the invention for production of gloves according to theinvention. Below the thumb and laterally of the wrist of the model handof the former, the former has an elevation at its surface that issimilar to a knob or to a truncated cone, respectively. Therefore, upondipping of the former into an immersion bath the gripping aid isco-produced directly in the shaping phase at the respective position,i.e. laterally below the finger space which is adapted for intake of athumb. Although it is not depicted in FIG. 5, the former is supposed tohave patterning at its elevation as well as at at least two fingers ofthe model hand in the region of the fingertips.

FIG. 6 shows a glove according to the invention having a gripping aid 6which comprises a structured surface 7. Besides, the glove hasstructured surfaces 9 on each finger space at their ends opposite thepalm space. On its side which is averted from the rolled edge, thegripping aid 6 is arranged on the periphery of the cuff such that thetransition between the cuff 5 and the gripping aid 6 has a U-shapedprofile. Accordingly, a former 10 also has this U-shaped profile, whichformer was used for producing the glove. Due to the U-shaped profile ofthe transition between the cuff 5 and the gripping aid 6, no air bubblesare formed during the dipping of the former 10 into an immersion bath,as they could be formed for example with an angular transition betweenthe cuff 5 and the gripping aid 6. On its side facing the rolled edge,the gripping aid 6 also has a slight depression. The respectivedepression of the former 10 which was used for production of the gloveeffects that liquid increasingly accumulates in the depression duringthe dipping of the former 10 into an immersion bath or during thesubsequent drying, respectively, in the production process according tothe invention. Therefore, the glove preferably has an increased materialthickness and resulting therefrom an increased tear strength in thisregion.

Furthermore, it is generally preferred that the gripping aid 6 has aprotrusion (not depicted) which e.g. is arranged at an angle to itslongitudinal direction, at which protrusion after the “dipping” liquidflowing down in a vertical position of the glove with the fingertips andfinger spaces pointing downwards, respectively, accumulates instead ofdripping off the gripping aid 6 (e.g. onto the finger space 3 which isadapted to a thumb).

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 glove-   2 glove body-   3 finger space-   4 palm space-   5 cuff-   6 gripping aid-   7 structured surface at the gripping aid-   8 end of the finger space opposite the palm space-   9 structured surface at the glove body-   10 former

1. A glove (1) having a glove body (2) which comprises five fingerspaces (3) for the fingers of one hand as well as a palm space (4)connected to each of the finger spaces (3), and having a cuff (5)adjoining to the palm space (4), on the periphery of which cuff (5) atleast one gripping aid (6) is arranged, characterized in that the glovebody (2), the cuff (5) and the at least one gripping aid (6) are made inone piece, the gripping aid (6) at least partially has a structuredsurface (7) and the glove body (2) has a structured surface (9) at atleast two of the finger spaces (3) at their respective ends (8) oppositethe palm space (4).
 2. The glove (1) according to claim 1, wherein theglove body (2) has a structured surface (9) at all five finger spaces(3) at their respective ends (8) opposite the palm space (4).
 3. Theglove (1) according to claim 1, wherein the structured surface (7, 9)has knobs, lamellae and/or grooves.
 4. The glove (1) according to claim1, wherein the wall thickness of the glove in a region adjacent to thestructured surface (7) of the at least one gripping aid (6) is increasedin comparison to an adjacent region without a structured surface andwith the same distance to the rolled edge.
 5. The glove (1) according toclaim 1, wherein the structured surfaces (9) at the ends (8) of thefinger spaces (3) extend over 70 to 100% of the periphery of the fingerspaces (3)
 6. The glove Glove (1) according to claim 1, wherein it hasexactly one gripping aid (6) which is arranged in the cuff regionlaterally of the wrist when the glove is worn.
 7. A process forproducing a glove (1) according to claim 1 using a former (10), whereinthe gripping aid (6) with its at least partially structured surface (7)as well as the structured surfaces (9) at the finger spaces (3) of theglove body (2) are co-produced in the shaping process of the glove (1).8. The process according to claim 7, characterized by the stepsproviding a former (10) having the geometry of a hand with anessentially cylindrical section adjoining thereto, at the periphery ofwhich at least one elevation is arranged, wherein at the surface of theelevation patterning is arranged at least partially, and wherein at atleast two fingers of the model hand patterning is arranged, too, attheir respective ends opposite the palm space; dipping the former (10)into an immersion bath of chemical and/or natural ingredients; dryingthe glove (1); vulcanizing the glove (1); separating the glove (1) fromthe former (10).
 9. A process for producing a former (10) for use in aprocess according to claim
 7. 10. Use of a glove (1) according to claim1 as examination glove, surgical glove or work glove.